COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS MASSACHUSETTS ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST 100 Cambridge Street, 9

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MASSACHUSETTS ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST
100 Cambridge Street, 9th Floor
Boston, MA 02114
REQUEST FOR RESPONSE (RFR)
FOR
MASSACHUSETTS ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST
FY13 GENERAL GRANTS
RFR# ENV 12 MET 01
CONTACT PERSON:
Telephone:
Fax:
E-Mail
William Hinkley, Program Coordinator
617.626.1177
617.626.1181
[email protected]
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This Page Intentionally Left Blank
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EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
Richard K. Sullivan, Jr., Secretary
Grant Announcement
RFR ID: ENV 12 MET 01
Dated: August 1, 2011
MASSACHUSETTS ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST
FY13 GENERAL GRANTS
1. GRANT OPPORTUNITY SUMMARY:
A. PROPOSALS SOUGHT FOR: The Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET or the Trust) seeks
proposals from communities and non-profit organizations for projects that will restore, protect,
and improve water and water-related resources of the Commonwealth.
B. OVERVIEW AND GOALS: The Massachusetts Environmental Trust General Grants Program
supports nonprofit organizations and municipalities in efforts to restore, protect, and improve
water and water-related resources of the Commonwealth. The general grants program accepts
proposals for programs and initiatives that address threats to the health of the state‟s water bodies
and watersheds.
The General Grant program provides funding to support programs, research, and other activities
that promote the responsible stewardship of the Commonwealth‟s water resources. The goal of
this MET program is to encourage development of new approaches and ideas and to spur
innovation among grantees or partnering organizations. To achieve these outcomes, the Trust
seeks proposals that would: improve water quality or quantity, conserve aquatic or marine habitat
and species, reduce runoff pollution, mitigate the effects of climate change on water resources,
promote human health as it relates to water resources, and/or other efforts consistent with the
Trust‟s mission and the application criteria described below.
C. ELIGIBLE PROJECTS: Examples of the kinds of projects that would be eligible for support
include, but are not limited to, innovative projects that address concerns such as:
Point and non-point source pollution (including runoff, bacterial, chemical, and nutrient);
Water conservation and enhancing recharge and flow;
River and estuary continuity;
Monitoring marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems;
Endangered and threatened species and habitat;
Human health issues that result from degraded water resources;
Environmental education projects pertaining to water resources;
Low-income or “environmental justice” communities; and/or
Research on emerging environmental issues.
(See further detail on eligible projects in section 2B).
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D. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS:
This grant program is open to any public or §501(c)(3) certified non-profit organizations,
including, but not limited to municipalities, public or nonprofit educational institutions, including
school districts, and nonprofit organizations (§501(c)(3) or fiscal partnerships with §501(c)(3)
organizations).
(See further detail on eligible applicants in section 2A).
E. APPLICATION DEADLINE:
Deadline for Letters of Inquiry:
14 October 2011
Deadline for Full Proposals (Invited Only): 16 March 2012
(See further detail on deadlines and grant program calendar in section 4)
F. FUNDING AVAILABILITY:
The anticipated budget for this grant program is $500,000. Grant size will vary but is generally
between $10,000 and $50,000 per year, per award. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of
the Massachusetts Environmental Trust Board of Trustees and Secretary (see further detail on
Funding Availability in section 2C).
G. MATCH REQUIREMENT: Matching funds are a preferred but not mandatory proposal
specification. Quantity and quality of match is an aspect of the proposal evaluation criteria (See
further detail on match requirement in section 2D).
H. TOTAL ANTICIPATED DURATION OF CONTRACT(S): Contracts will begin on or about 1 July
2012 and will end 30 June 2013, 2014, or 2015. (See further detail on anticipated duration of
contract(s) in section 2F).
I. REGULATIONS, STATUTES, OR AUTHORIZATION GOVERNING THIS GRANT PROGRAM: The
Massachusetts Environmental Trust was established as a state trust by the Legislature in Chapter
236, Section 7 of the Acts of 1988. The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees appointed by the
Secretary for Energy and Environmental Affairs. Grant awards are made subject to 815 CMR
2.00 and 801 CMR 21.00
J. CONTACT INFORMATION:
William Hinkley
RFR#: ENV 12 MET 01
Massachusetts Environmental Trust
100 Cambridge Street. 9th Floor
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 626-1045
[email protected]
www.mass.gov/eea/met
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2. Performance and Contract Specifications
A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS:
This grant program is open to any Massachusetts public or §501(c)(3) certified non-profit
organizations, including, but not limited to:
Municipalities
Nonprofit Organizations (§501(c)(3) or fiscal partnerships with §501(c)(3) organizations)
Public or nonprofit educational institutions, including school districts
State and federal agencies and commercial organizations are generally ineligible to apply. Funds
may only be used for the public purposes outlined to meet MET goals.
Organizations based outside Massachusetts may apply provided that the proposed project takes
place in Massachusetts.
State laws require that no funds can be used in support of political or religious organizations.
Non-public entities should consult 815 CMR 2.00 (state regulations governing grant funding to
non-public entities at http://www.sec.state.ma.us/spr/sprinf/infocode.htm).
Multiple Applications: The Trust will accept only one Letter of Inquiry per organization
per year and will fund only one project per organization per year.
If a grantee-organization has a current multi-year grant with the Trust, it may not apply for
funding until the project is completed.
B. ELIGIBLE PROJECT(S)/SCOPE(S) OF WORK:
Program Context
The Trust seeks to fund projects that will result in measurable, visible, and replicable benefits to
the water resources in Massachusetts. All projects funded by the Trust must increase
understanding of or restore, protect, or improve the condition of a water body of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including oceans, harbors, bays, rivers, aquifers, and watershed
resources.
The waters of the Commonwealth face immediate and growing threats such as runoff pollution,
mismanagement of water withdrawals (excessive summer use, sewering out of basin, etc),
bacterial pollution, nitrogen pollution, chemical pollution, temperature change, invasive species
and habitat degradation and loss. Climate change and development pressure further exacerbate
these problems as natural communities and riparian buffers are displaced, and water infrastructure
must accommodate wider ranges of floods and droughts. Massachusetts continues to develop land
at a pace that far exceeds human population change. These continuing problems endanger
ecosystems and human health.
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Program Description
The scope of eligible activity is intentionally broad. The Trust seeks innovative projects that will
benefit the water resources of the Commonwealth. Examples of the kinds of issues that the Trust
seeks to address through this program include, but are not limited to:
Point and non-point source pollution (including runoff, bacterial, chemical, and nutrient);
Water conservation and enhancing flow;
River and estuary continuity;
Monitoring marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems;
Endangered and threatened species and habitat;
Human health issues that result from degraded water resources;
Environmental education pertaining to water resources;
Low-income or “environmental justice” communities; and/or
Research on emerging environmental issues.
A “mandatory” specification is one that must be met in order for a proposal to be considered
responsive. These are denoted throughout this RFR as “must” or “required”. Any response,
regardless of the submission formats allowed below, that fails to meet a mandatory specification
of this RFR may be found non-responsive without further evaluation unless the Massachusetts
Environmental Trust, in its discretion, determines that the non-compliance is insubstantial and can
be corrected or that an alternative specification meets the requirements of this RFR. All
mandatory specifications in this section must be met unless respondents can demonstrate that an
alternative is equivalent and will result in meeting the same objectives of this RFR.
In their responses, respondents must demonstrate how they will meet the specifications of this
RFR per the proposal submission guidelines in Section 3.
Preferred Approaches
The Trust will give preference to those projects that:
Support new programs and projects rather than the operation of existing programs;
Involve collaboration with other non-profits, municipalities, regional, state or federal
governments, or private partners;
Leverage additional funding or in-kind resources to maximize impact of MET grant funds;
Include outreach to the media and general public, other non-profits, municipalities, and
community leaders to share project approaches and results;
Recognize the interdependence of land and water;
Address issues with a cross-boundary approach (local, regional, state);
Address global issues at a local level;
Address social/environmental justice concerns;
Build and strengthen the capacities of organizations and partnerships; and
Define clearly expected outcomes and include metrics for measuring success.
The impact of the limited money available to environmental causes should be leveraged to
influence the way the public thinks and acts toward the natural world. Every proposal should have
a plan to use the media to expand the results of their program by broadly relaying the message
that their organization‟s work both benefits the public and depends on its support.
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C. FUNDING AVAILABILITY, BUDGETING GUIDELINES & ALLOWABLE EXPENDITURES:
The anticipated budget for this grant program is $500,000. Grant size will vary but is generally
between $10,000 and $50,000 per year, per award.
Funding Limitations
The Trust will fund only those costs directly associated with project activities. Staff time, fringe
benefits, and general operating expenses may be funded only if incurred as a direct result of the
project work.
The Trust will consider providing overhead on a case by case basis, but will not exceed 25% of
the proposal request. In general, the Trust considers proposals without overhead more competitive
than those that include overhead expenses. The contribution of overhead expenses to the project
by the applicant organization is considered a demonstration of the applicant‟s commitment to the
proposed project and willingness to assume some of the risk involved in a new venture.
This program does not generally fund capital purchases, defined as those with a lifespan of longer
than five years (except in the case of demonstration projects). This grant program does not fund
land acquisition per se, but the Trust will consider support for activities surrounding potential
land acquisition, conservation, and/or protection provided that the request is in accordance with
the program guidelines.
Through this program, the Trust will consider certain projects that implement physical
improvements to water resources. This may include but is not limited to: dam removal, culvert
replacement, fish passage, wetland restoration, or the removal of invasive species. The Trust will
consider Low Impact Development (LID) pilot or implementation projects only if a site is firmly
committed and if the project is not required under mitigation requirements or Mass. DEP or US
EPA stormwater regulations.
For projects involving water quality monitoring, a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) will be
required. A QAPP is a document that outlines the components of a monitoring program, including
the steps taken to assure the quality of the data generated. All QAPPs must be approved by Mass.
Department of Environmental Protection or the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
An organization that does not have a QAPP for its monitoring program may request grant funds to
develop one.
All contracts shall be subject to available funding, whether through the appropriation and
authorization of sufficient funds or the receipt of sufficient revenues. If available funding ceases
for any reason, a contract shall be deemed under suspension and contract performance must halt.
A contractor will not be entitled to compensation for any performance provided during the period
of contract suspension. The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) may
lift the suspension if available funding is received. In the absence of foreseeable available
funding, EEA may terminate the contract.
D. MATCH REQUIREMENT:
A longstanding priority of the Trust is to leverage grant funds to stimulate public, non-profit and
private sector investment in the protection and restoration of Massachusetts‟ water resources
through matching grants, loans, and grants.
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The Trust recognizes that grant funding for environmental projects is limited. Proposals that
would augment the Trust‟s investment by leveraging funds from other sources are strongly
preferred. MET does not require a minimum match for participation in this grant program,
however, proposals that can demonstrate multiple funding sources are generally considered more
competitive than those projects that will rely solely on MET funds. Partnerships and
collaborations between organizations that can bring many resources to bear on the project are
strongly preferred. Quality of matching commitment is a factor in proposal evaluation.
Preference will be given to proposals that include commitment of local resources and cash.
Match may be cash from external sources.
Match may be from in-kind sources including time of municipal or nonprofit organization
employees.
Written commitment of any match(es) is required in the full proposal application package.
E. PROJECT TERMS:
If awarded, all projects will be required to abide by the Standard Commonwealth of
Massachusetts Terms and Conditions and the EEA Supplemental Terms and Conditions. In
addition, all final contracts are subject to successful negotiation of a Final Scope of Services.
Please note that EEA does not guarantee that any contracts may result from this RFR or that any
particular funding level will be awarded. It is anticipated that projects could commence on July 1,
2012. The awarded contracts will be reviewed during their course and, upon request by the
Contractor, may be extended or otherwise amended at the sole discretion of EEA. Any extensions
granted will not necessarily change, or increase, the monetary value of the contract.
F. ANTICIPATED DURATION OF CONTRACTS: Contracts will begin on or about July 1, 2012.
Grants are generally awarded on a fiscal year basis, beginning July 1st and ending June 30th. The
Trust cannot disburse grant funds for any work done outside of the grant contract period (i.e.
although the grant recipient may be notified of the grant award in May, the Trust cannot fund
work done in May or June because the grant period does not begin until July). Work performed
following the close of the contract period cannot be funded.
Proposals may be submitted as either single year or multi-year projects that span two or three
fiscal years. Multi-year requests will only be considered if there is a compelling need for multiyear funding (those projects that need more than one year to complete). No awards will be made
for projects longer than 36 months in duration.
Applicants proposing projects for multi-year funding must provide a clear program design for
multiple years, and a clear, step-by-step progression of activities and corresponding goals,
objectives, and outcomes. Renewal of the second or third year of contracts is contingent upon
timely reporting and satisfactory completion of first and second year obligations. The Trust will
fund only one project per organization per year. If a grantee-organization has a current multi-year
grant with the Trust, it may not apply for funding until the project is completed.
Extensions to the grant contract period must be made in writing not less than thirty (30) days prior
to the project end date and will only be granted in extraordinary circumstances.
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G. DELIVERABLES, OWNERSHIP, AND CREDIT DUE:
The funds for the General Grants Program are generated exclusively by sales of the Trust‟s three
environmental license plates – the Northern Right Whale & Roseate Terns, the Leaping Brook
Trout, and the Blackstone Valley Mill. By acknowledging the Trust‟s support, and making the
connection between the license plates and the work done by your organization, you are preserving
the future of grant funding through this program. The Trust requires that grantees not only display
the Trust‟s logo and/or plate images on all project-related materials but also give appropriate
written credit to the Trust in all promotional and related materials. The Trust expects that all
organizations that receive a grant work with the Trust to make the connection between the sale of
the license plate and the good work being done. The Trust hopes to build awareness of the good
environmental work funded by the sale of these specialty plates, and as a result, increase the
number of plates sold and funds available for grants. See full proposal application instructions in
section 3B regarding promoting the plates.
H. REPORTING:
Interim and final reports must be submitted by the dates outlined in Attachment C of the contract.
The interim and final grant payments are contingent upon the timely receipt and review of the
requisite reports. No payments are issued until the requisite reports are received and approved.
Renewal of the second or third year of contracts is contingent upon timely reporting and
satisfactory completion of first and second year obligations.
I. INVOICING:
Grant disbursements are made in increments of 50% (initial), 25% (interim), and 25% (final/end
year) of the yearly grant award. Grant awardees will submit their reports in lieu of invoices per
the schedule outlined in the grant contract. The Trust cannot disburse grant funds for any work
done outside of the grant contract period (i.e. although the grant recipient may be notified of the
grant award in May, the Trust cannot fund work done in May or June because the grant period
does not begin until July). Work performed following the close of the contract period cannot be
funded.
See also EEA Supplemental Terms and Conditions on Comm-PASS.
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3. Instructions for Application Submission
A. EVALUATION CRITERIA: Each Response will be scored using the following measures:
An advisory committee will use the information contained in the grant application and the
evaluation criteria outlined below to evaluate any proposals received. Awards may be made for
less than the amount requested and/or for portions of the work proposed in the grant application.
Did the applicant adhere to mandatory specifications?
Does the proposal clearly describe goals, objectives, and scope of work?
Is the Letter of Inquiry or Full Proposal complete – did the applicant fulfill all instructions
and submit required documentation?
Does the proposed project fit well within the RFR program description and mission of the
Trust?
Does the project involve any of the preferred approaches outlined in this RFR?
Are the goals and objectives of the project clear?
Is the applicant collaborating and/or partnering with relevant entities (i.e. other nonprofits, agencies, municipalities)?
Is the budget reasonable? Does the budget include revenue from sources other than the
Trust?
If the project involves physical change to a water resource, are feasibility studies, permits,
and funding packages realistic or in place?
If the project involves monitoring, does the proponent have a valid QAPP for the
parameters defined in the proposal?
What is the population that is being served by the project? Is it an environmental justice
community and/or an underserved community?
If a past grant recipient, did the applicant have a good working relationship with the Trust
(i.e. fulfill their contractual obligations in a timely manner)?
What impact will the project have on the Trust‟s funding priorities?
Does the project include an outreach and/or education component?
Does the applicant have a plan to promote license plates?
Does the project involve evaluation measures?
Will the project leverage additional funds?
How will the project or program be sustained once MET funding ends?
The advisory committees will have a particular focus on evaluating the outcomes and
accomplishments of the proposed project. Applicants are required to demonstrate that their project
will have measurable outcomes and a discrete benefit to the water resources of Massachusetts.
The proposal must define qualitative and quantitative measurements of success and the steps that
will be taken to apply those measures.
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B. APPLICATION SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:
Application Process
Application to the General Grants Program is a two-step process. First, a Letter of Inquiry (LOI)
must be received by October 14, 2011 according to the deadline section of this RFR. Full
proposals will then be invited at the recommendation of the Advisory Committee and approval of
the Board of Trustees. Full proposals must be received by March 16, 2012.
STEP 1: Letter of Inquiry
Submit one (1) original signed Massachusetts Environmental Trust Cover Sheet (Appendix A)
and Letter of Inquiry Narrative. The Trust Cover Sheet may be found on our website at
www.MassEnvironmentalTrust.org.
The Massachusetts Environmental Trust Cover Sheet provides a “snapshot” of your organization
and your proposed project. Please note that the project summary you include is used verbatim to
provide the Advisory Committee and the Board of Trustees with an initial summary of your
request. Therefore, make sure that the information in the paragraph (limited to 4 sentences)
adequately reflects the nature of the project and specific use of Trust funds.
The Letter of Inquiry Narrative should be in twelve point font, should not exceed one (1) doublesided page. Please do not include any support documentation at this time, as it will not be
reviewed.
The Letter of Inquiry Narrative must include the following information:
Brief description of the applicant organization and/or mission statement;
Description of the proposed project and anticipated benefit to Massachusetts‟ waters and
related resources;
Total project budget, making clear the following: total amount requested from the Trust
and number of years; for multi-year requests, amount requested per fiscal year; purpose
for which funds will be used; other funding sources for this project;
Timeline for the project;
Description of project partners and their anticipated role in the project.
STEP 2: Full Proposal (invited by the Trust only)
Full proposals should only be submitted in response to an accepted Letter of Inquiry and
invitation from the Trust. The proposal format can be found in the section entitled „Full Proposal
Submission‟. The dates for second round of application are in Section 4 of this RFR and will
provided again to invited applicants.
Full proposals are accepted only after invitation based upon review and approval of a Letter of
Inquiry (LOI). The full proposal narrative must not exceed ten (10) pages in no smaller than
twelve point font. Applicants must submit one (1) signed original full proposal. Applicants must
include an updated Massachusetts Environmental Trust Cover Sheet with the full proposal.
Applicants that would like to be informed of receipt of full proposals should include a selfaddressed, stamped postcard.
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Full Proposal Narrative
Proposals must not exceed ten (10) pages in length in no smaller than twelve (12) point font. The
narrative must contain the following information:
Background
Brief summary of organization‟s history, goals, and key achievements;
Overview of organization‟s structure and programs, including board, staff, and volunteer
involvement;
Organization‟s qualifications to perform work proposed. List relevant work, experiences,
and qualifications of the respondent and any external entity that has been identified to
perform a significant role in the Scope of Work; and
Description of organization‟s constituents for the organization overall, or for the specific
project. For example, total number and breakdown by age, gender, race/ethnicity, income
levels, disabilities, geography, language spoken, or other criteria relevant to your
organization or project.
Project Description
Location of project.
Description of the community and/or regional need(s) and/or challenges that this project
will address. Description of the level and nature of involvement of the community.
Description of staff who will be working on this project and their qualifications.
List of other project partners with contact information and their roles, responsibilities and
qualifications in relation to the project.
Description of the specific request that includes goals and objectives. Provide a summary
of the proposed project with a thorough explanation of proposed methodology and
approach being taken. Also describe how the proposed project connects to improvement of
Massachusetts water resources. Make clear potential management implications of the
program, if applicable.
o Scope of Work / Tasks to be completed under award request:
 Provide a scope of work for the tasks to be completed under this award request.
 Provide a specific, step-by-step narrative for each task and include any supporting
plans, tables, or graphics.
 Identify to the best of your ability who will be performing each task and whether
the work will be done by the applicant organization or an external firm or group.
 State deliverables and estimated timelines.
o The scope of work in the proposal will become the scope of the grant contract with
MET if the proposal is accepted. The Trust expects that awardees will adhere to the
scope and timeline. Be sure that the scope proposed is realistic and achievable.
Project budget:
Provide a detailed itemized budget that lists the cost for each task and item identified in
the Scope of Work. Also provide a total budget for the proposed project and identify any
indirect or direct costs, including travel, supplies, etc. that were not associated with a
specific task or item. Items not identified in this section of the application will not be
eligible for award.
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Other funding and matching:
List all sources of existing funding for this project, their time restrictions or expirations.
Also list sources that may be pending (e.g., other grant applications under consideration).
Describe the source of any matching contributions (cash or in-kind). For in-kind, provide
hourly rates, hours, and line item costs. If in-kind match will be provided by an entity
outside the Applicant‟s organization, a letter from an authorized agent of the match
provider must be submitted stating a commitment to provide the match.
Evaluation and Deliverables
Define the criteria for success for this project and a description of how you will measure
your success in both the short and long-terms. What tool(s) will be used to evaluate your
program or organization? What is your strategy for implementing the evaluation process?
Define the accomplishment or product that will result from the completion of this project.
What is the place of this accomplishment in the broader environmental need it addresses?
Describe your plan to sustain this effort and strategy for building your funding base.
Describe your outreach efforts to ensure impact and visibility of your proposed project.
Describe how you will promote the environmental license plates that fund this grant
program.
Project proposals must include the following. Failure to provide any of the materials listed below
may result in the disqualification of the Proposal.
With the full proposal narrative, the following documents must be attached. These are not
included in the 10 page narrative limit.
Updated Massachusetts Environmental Trust Cover Sheet;
IRS letter confirming tax-exempt status;
Map of proposed geographic area, if applicable;
Resumes of project staff;
Letters of Support (letters of support must be included from committed project partners
outlining their role in or programmatic support of this project. General letters describing
support of the project are not encouraged);
Current board list with relevant background, affiliations, town residence, and number of
times a year it meets, if applicable;
Total current Board-approved organization budget;
Most recent independent audit or account review;
Year-to-date financial statement for current fiscal year; and
List of companies and foundations being approached to fund this proposal, with dollar
amounts indicating which sources are committed, pending, or anticipated.
The Application Form is provided in Attachment A of this document.
C. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION:
If selected, the Respondent will be required to submit the following forms to complete a
contract:
Commonwealth Standard Contract Form, filled out and signed by the Respondent
Commonwealth Scope and Budget Form
Commonwealth Terms and Conditions filled out and signed by the Respondent
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EEA Supplemental Terms & Conditions
Commonwealth W-9 tax information form filled out and signed by the Respondent.
Completed Contractor Authorized Signature Verification Form.
A statement, on Respondent letterhead, attesting to the conditions in Item 24 of the EEA
Supplemental Terms and Conditions (see Attachment G)
These forms are not required for the RFR Response, but respondents are encouraged to review
these forms prior to submission. Forms are available at:
http://www.mass.gov/portal/index.jsp?pageID=osdmodulechunk&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Aosd&b
=terminalcontent&f=osd_forms&csid=Aosd.
4. Deadlines and Procurement Calendar
A. RELEASE OF RFR: The schedule below is estimated. Dates and times are subject to change.
Respondents are responsible for checking for any updates on the Comm-PASS system.
RFR posted on www.comm-pass.com:
August 1, 2011
RFR Letters of Inquiry due:
October 14, 2011 4:00 p.m.
Full Proposals Invited
January, 31 2012
Full Proposals Due:
March 16, 2012
Awards Announced:
May 15, 2012
Contracts Commence:
July 1, 2012
Projects must be completed by:
June 30, 2013, 2014, or 2015
Letters of Inquiry/Full Proposals must be received at the Trust‟s office at 100 Cambridge
Street, 9th Floor, Boston, MA 02114 by 4:00 p.m. on the date specified above. Applicants that
would like to be notified of receipt of submission should include a self-addressed, stamped
postcard. Faxes and e-mails will not be accepted. Letters, proposals, and support materials will
not be returned. Late submissions will not be accepted.
B. INFORMATION SESSION: No information sessions or bidders conferences are planned for this
RFR.
C. LETTER OF INQUIRY DUE DATE: October 14, 2011 4:00 p.m.
D. ESTIMATED AWARD DATE: Awards are estimated to be announced on May 15, 2012, with
contract negotiations to begin immediately thereafter.
E. ESTIMATED CONTRACT START DATE: 1 July, 2012. Notwithstanding any verbal
representations by the parties, or an earlier start date listed in the Standard Contract Form, and
only after an award is issued and a final scope of services has been negotiated, the effective start
date of a contract shall be the latest of the following dates: the date the Standard Contract Form
has been executed by an authorized signatory of the contractor and the procuring department; the
date of secretariat or other approval(s) required by law or regulation; or a later date specified in
the Standard Contract Form.
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5. Miscellaneous
A. TYPE OF PROCUREMENT: Grant
B. USE OF THIS PROCUREMENT BY SINGLE OR MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS: This RFR is a single
department procurement. All contracts awarded under this RFR will be utilized solely by EEA.
C. REQUEST FOR SINGLE OR MULTIPLE CONTRACTORS:
The Massachusetts Environmental Trust may, at its discretion, make awards to one or more
contractors depending upon available funding and the number, quality, and scale of responses.
D. RFR DISTRIBUTION METHOD: This RFR has been distributed electronically using the CommPASS system. It is the responsibility of every Applicant to check Comm-PASS for any addenda
or modifications to an RFR to which they intend to respond. The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and its subdivisions accept no liability and will provide no accommodations to
Applicants who fail to check for amended RFRs and submit inadequate or incorrect responses.
Potential Respondents are advised to check the “last change” field on the summary page of RFRs
for which they intend to submit a response to ensure they have the most recent RFR files.
The link to this RFR will be posted to the Trust‟s web site, posted on numerous environmental
list-serves and newsletters, and distributed to print and electronic means.
Respondents may not alter RFR language or any RFR component files. Those submitting a
proposal must respond in accordance to the RFR directions and complete only those sections that
prompt a Respondent for a response. Modifications to the body of this RFR, specifications, terms
and conditions, or which change the intent of this RFR are prohibited. Any unauthorized
alterations will disqualify response.
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For MET Use Only
MASSACHUSETTS ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST
PROPOSAL COVER SHEET
Please complete and submit this Cover Sheet with your Full Proposal. Please be sure to
include ALL required documents as described in RFR. The completed Cover Sheet
and Narrative may be mailed to: Massachusetts Environmental Trust, Attn: Program
Coordinator, 100 Cambridge Street, 9 th Floor, Boston, MA 02114. Application must
be received by 4:00 p.m. on the date specified in the Request for Response Postmarks
are not sufficient for acceptance. The Trust does not accept submissions via facsimile
and/or electronic mail. If you have any questions, please contact the Program
Coordinator at 617.626.1177 or refer to the Trust‟s website at www.mass.gov/eea/met
ORGANIZATION INFORMATION:
DATE:
ORGANIZATION NAME:
ORGANIZATION ADDRESS:
PHONE:
WEBSITE:
FAX:
EMAIL:
IRS 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT?
EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (EIN): ___________________________________________
CHIEF EXECUTIVE:
PRIMARY CONTACT FOR THIS GRANT REQUEST AND POSITION (provide phone, e-mail and
address if different from above):
STATE YOUR ORGANIZATION‟S MISSION:
TOTAL NUMBER OF BOARD MEMBERS:
TOTAL NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS:
TOTAL NUMBER OF STAFF: full time
part time
TOTAL ANNUAL ORGANIZATIONAL BUDGET:
(SEE PAGE 2)
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PROJECT INFORMATION:
TOTAL AMOUNT REQUESTED:
OVER # OF YEARS (1-3 years):
TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET (from all sources):
TITLE OF PROJECT:
SUMMARY OF PROJECT:
PROJECT PARTNERS (if applicable)
LIST ALL PREVIOUS SUPPORT FROM MASSACHUSETTS ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST (include
fiscal year, title of project, program area, and amount granted):
Signature of Chief Executive
Signature of Project Manager
___________________________
_________________________
Print Name
Print Name
___________________________
_________________________
Print Title
Print Title
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